COURTZ’ CORNER – Issue One
2024/25 Shaw and Partners Iron Series Round 2 Preview
Welcome to Champion Ironwoman Courtney Hancock’s very own corner of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series. Here you’ll find the thoughts and predictions of the 3x Iron Series Champion and 4x Coolangatta Gold Champion, the one-and-only Courtz!
This week, Courtz reminds us of some of the standouts from Round 1 in Wanda, and what she expects to see from this weekend in Newcastle.
Rewind to Wanda
Who impressed you during Round 1?
Three Ironwomen who really shone for totally different reasons were Electra Outram, Lana Rogers, and Lizzie Welborn.
It is never an easy feat to be a 3x defending Ironwoman Series Champion, so what a round it was for Lana Rogers. To come out with a performance like she did, not only just winning but stamping her authority and looking like she wants more, at this stage in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series, Lana is the one to watch!
We thought Electra Outram was impressive last year, and she began this season where she left off – with an absolute bang. Attacking the EnduroSurf format from the front until just over the halfway mark, she was unlucky not to land on the podium on Day 1, but what impressed me the most was her no-fear attitude, backing her ability to take it to the best in the field.
Welborn may not have got the chocolates in Round 1, but I tell you she is here for the fight and one athlete who is a huge threat for the overall Title.
As for the men, well where to start? Ali Day. Need I say more?
Hot on his heels though, we ushered in a new dawn of Ironmen. The crop we have been eagerly and patiently waiting for to take the jump from junior champions to making their presence felt on the professional stage – and didn’t they do just that!
You better get used to hearing the names of Callaghan, Maggs, and Harland because they are no longer the future, they are the now. Don’t be fooled by their age or their fresh faces, they have proven to us they are big threats to take the overall Ironman crown.
Which of the 2024/25 Shaw and Partners Series rookies impressed you the most?
One of the toughest tests in elite surf sports is ‘The Eliminator,’ and its especially hard for those experiencing it for the very first time.
With plenty of amazing performances on debut, alongside some competitors making their return to the professional series after a few years, it’s always difficult to pinpoint one competitor. However, one that caught my eye was Grace Harris from Alexandra Headland SLSC.
I thought she was ultra consistent across the weekend and with a bit of luck here or there, she gave herself a chance to be contending on the leader’s wave. We’ve only experienced a small sample of what this young gun has to offer, the future looks bright as she is only getting started.
What were some moments that caught your expert eye during Round 1?
Lucy Derbyshire’s ability to make back metres in her ski leg was a real stand out for me. Watching either from your couch at home or on the beach, you’ll notice the impact she has as she fires her strokes across the water. Over the past 12 months ‘Miss Consistent’ Derbyshire has only been on the up and up, with no weakness across all legs and her main weapon being the ski.
I think we are yet to see Derbyshire’s best race yet, which is a scary thought indeed.
There were a couple of dramatic moments that took place for the Ironmen. You may have noticed Joe Collins taking a 5 second break mid-race to be sick, Ben Carberry (a Series favourite contender) just slipping in by one place to secure a spot for Round 2, and Corey Fletcher missing the top 22 cut. You won’t hear it from him, but Fletcher almost missed the Series completely due to illness.
But the one that shocked us all the most was former Iron Series Champion Kendrick Louis struck down halfway through the EudroSurf due to a calf injury. Unfortunately for Kenj this meant missing the Sunday and the result of this being in the bottom 6 and cut from the rest of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series. We wish Kendrick a speedy recovery.
Thoughts on how the athletes approached the new-look Shaw and Partners Iron Series format?
Being a completely new Series with elimination after every Round, you saw and felt the nerves from all athletes and their support teams.
A popular statement that arose from the Round 1 weekend – the size and strength of the field took everyone by surprise and if you weren’t feeling at your best, you had to dig deep to fight your way through to Round 2.
With all this said, every Round of the 2024/25 Shaw and Partners Iron Series becomes more cut-throat than ever before, and we will say goodbye to another six athletes this weekend, which leaves the best 16 to race off in Round 3.
What’s new for Newcastle?
Who do you have your eyes on for Round 2 this weekend?
Tiarnee Massie and Matt Bevilacqua.
The Massie name is royalty throughout sport in Australia, and Tiarnee is keeping it alive and firing. She is also redefining the saying ‘The Pocket Rocket,’ who not only lights up the ocean but has won the hearts of the sport. A favourite to cheer for little girls coming through and showing her grit and determination in every type of race whether it be the Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold, Australian Titles, or The Shaw and Partners Iron Series.
A word of advice, if you have Massie chasing you, I would get a move on as there is nothing stopping this Ironwoman! Don’t be surprised if Tiarnee is a wave away from winning her first Iron Series Round and going one further and winning the overall trophy.
Former 2x Iron Series winner Matt Bevilaqua was in unfamiliar waters in Round 1. With the announcement of a new baby due in 2025 and his finance Brielle Cooper retiring from the 2024/25 Shaw and Partners Iron Series, it had been an emotional time for Bevilaqua leading down to the Sutherland Shire. Expect the former series champion to have a big weekend in Newcastle!
The elite Iron Series is returning to Newcastle for the first time in over ten years, what do you remember from competing at Newcastle Beach?
Where to start!
Newcastle local support is some of the best. An area that breeds rare talent, and the swell, well, the Shaw and Partners Iron Series Athletes better be ready for anything.
There are flash rips, currents, and shore dumps, plus a high chance of big, big waves. When the swell is up at Newy, the best of the best in surf rise to the top. The waves are powerful, and I have witnessed broken boards, skis, cables snapping, and bruised ribs. But this crop of Ironmen and Ironwomen are more than up for the challenge.
What’s your advice to the youngsters who may not have competed there before?
At Newcastle, if you can take time to read the conditions, I’d recommend you trust your own instinct, don’t follow the pack and use the energy of the crowd. This could all be that extra 10% you need to find yourself on top of the podium for Round 2.
Embrace every condition.
Final Thoughts?
Yes! A message to all the young surf sport athletes out there wanting to make the Shaw and Partners Iron Series one day – my hot tip is to watch and learn from Ali Day this weekend.
Ali learnt the tricks of the trade himself from watching the greats of Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes and Ky Hurst. Every athlete is different, and you need to be your own style, but there is no harm in taking pieces of Ali’s professionalism before, during, and after racing. In fact, I think you should keep a close watch to how he approaches the conditions at Newcastle this weekend. He does all the little things right and they accumulate to the big things being right.
See you all again soon back on NSW sand at Newcastle Beach!
Love Courtz xoxo
Watch Round 2 live this weekend on SBS and SBS VICELAND. Round 2 coverage starts 1pm AEDT Saturday (on SBS) and 1pm AEDT Sunday (SBS VICELAND). Both days will be live to stream on SBS On Demand, and for NZ audiences on Sky Sport NZ from 3pm NZDT.
You can follow results and live updated pointscores here.
Make sure you’re following @ironseries on Instagram, and comment on Courtz’ Corner posts to get your question answered next time!